The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council is taking nominations for membership.

The Folsom, Calif.-based council, which administers research and promotional programs for the highbush blueberry industry, is seeking nominees for three-year handler, importer and alternate positions, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service oversees the council.

The terms of one handler and two importer member positions, as well as alternate member positions for all three, will end Dec. 31, 2013. Terms for their replacements will begin Jan. 1, 2014, and end Dec. 31, 2016.

Nominations for new members are due Jan. 18.

The council’s Industry Relations Committee will review candidates and plans to present recommendations to the council’s Executive Committee by Feb. 11.

The Executive Committee will announce its selections at the council’s spring meeting March 1. The USDA makes the final decisions on the appointments.

The council, which is made up of 16 members and 16 alternates, is funded by assessments on domestic blueberry producers and blueberry importers.

Source: The Packer